"X-Men: Days of Future Past"

Hey Movie fans!

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

People sometimes forget, but there was a time before there were many really good comic book movies.  I mean, there were a few, yeah. But they were mostly DC based... and to be honest looking back, some of them don't hold up in comparison to what we expect from a Superhero movie now.

Then,  in 2000, came the X-Men. Brian Singer gave fans of the heroic mutants something they could have only dreamed about: a great movie. It had action, pathos, and a believable script that audiences were really wowed to see. That, and really spot on performances by Patrick Stewart, ian mckellen, and the soon-to-be household name, Hugh Jackman made this a film for die-hards, and casual fans alike. A few years later, and we would get a great sequel.. spider man movies, and eventually, the launch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But , the ole- X-Man franchise suffered a few bumps down the road. Despite the build up, I was disappointed the moment I walked out of X-3. And the Origins Wolverine didn't help much either. In fact, people were thinking of giving up hope, when they seemed to turn things around with X-Men first class. Set in the 1960's, this film had some similar visuals as the other X-films, but some parts of the plot just didn't add up, and despite a cameo from Hugh, the film makers had thought they were making the first of a re-launch.

Instead, we get a merger, with Fox trying to use the best from the old, to re-enforce the new... and by the old, we don't mean just the original cast, we also mean the original director, Brian Singer.  And what better way to bring the two franchises together across the gulf of time than one of the most classic story lines in X-Men history.

In Days of the Future Past, The Mutants in the future live in a dire world, run by nearly unkillable Sentinel robots. But they come up with a plan, to send Wolverine back into the past, the 1970's to be exact, to stop an event that would set the current events in motion. To do it, he needs to re-unite some help from 1970's Professor X, Magneto... and, considering how First Class ended, you can imagine that's not going to be easy.

What follows is what a great example of taking the best qualities of two worlds and making one fantastic whole. To say it briefly, "Days of Future Past" is a great super-hero flick.  The action is quick, and constant. We really get to see some creative use of some cool mutant powers right from the get go. And despite this being a film about time travel, the plot is straightforward enough to follow... even if you may have to remind yourself of William Stryker is.

Both James Mcavoy, and Michael Fassbender, reprising their roles from from First Class, continue to do great jobs as Professor X, and Magneto, continuing their struggle with ideologies, even as they unite for a common cause. And the story gives no easy answers. Magneto may be ruthless, but you can't help but understand his stance. And Professor X may have all the best intentions in the world, but his actions seem to hurt those who he had wanted to protect. Its some great pathos that is great to see develop, and to see how it all comes to an end,

Also of special note, in my mind, is peter Dinklage, as Bolivar Trask, the man whose fear of mutants is at the center of the movie. Dinklage is does a fine job humanizing a character it would be easy to simply dismiss as an evil monster. The more important thing to note, is that Dinklage is playing a role that does not need to be a portrayed by a person with Dwarfism. There is nothing about Trask that needs this trait. there's nothing about his storyline that hints that his motives are sparked by his height. Trask's merits, and faults could be found in any person. it would easy.. .VERY easy for the script to have included Trask waxing about how he envied the Power of mutants. Instead, we see a role being given to Dinklage for the only two reason's that matter. One he's a great actor. and two, thanks to Game of Thrones, he's really well known right now, so he adds name recognition.

Anyway, this is getting longer than I had anticipated, and I need to work tomorrow.

So, one thing the Xmen films have always done well is special effects, and the latest film only ups the ante. Not only are there great action scenes full of amazing powers and stunts. Also, and I don't say this often, if you can afford it, I would recommend seeing it in 3D. Normally, I don't really think 3D is really worth the price, but not only does 'Days' use the 3D effects well, but there are some scenes that really benefit from the effects. I doubt you will lose anything if you don't see it in 3D however, so if you want to save the cash, or if you're one of those people who just cant, or won't see  3D, you will not feel left out.

There are some problems with 'Days,' but there they kind you may expect in a film of this nature. First off, there's some pretty big continuity problems. They may get around to solving them one day, but right now they almost feel like elements that were just washed over for the sake of simplicity. The second, and I'm afraid this is a bit of a spoiler, so be warned... i hate it when characters who were main characters in the first movie, are killed off between films. I know why it's done, and I don't care. It always feels like it re-colors the end of the last film in the series. I'm not going to say more.

As for violence, due to the nature of the plot, "Days" has some scenes that are  much darker than the other X-Films. In fact, you see, pretty graphically, be it bloodlessly, some on camera deaths.  And these are some intense moments. For adults, this won't be a problem, but this really isn't a film for younger kids. As always, consider the audience.

So, there you go. "Days of Future Past" is a great, fun way to spend the memorial day weekend, and I 

recommend it to anyone who liked the first movie, or first class.  Lets hope this film helps define the franchises 'future.' See what I did there. I'm so clever.

Next week, Angelina Jolie reminds us how good evil can look, and Seth Macfarlane reminds us how The Old West was a terrible, terrible place to live.

Until then, this is Ron Edens reminding you, I'm the best at what I do, and what I do isn't pretty.

POST EDIT:
Almost forgot! Wait until the end of the credits!